Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

It has been approximately 10 minutes since I finished A Court of Mist and Fury. Coherent thoughts are a struggle at the moment. This book took every emotion I had — and a few I didn’t know existed — and proceeded to crush, mend, and crush them again. The last time I felt so emotional over a book was when I read Maas’s Queen of Shadows last fall. Clearly she is intent on destroying the world with her writing because it’s explosive.

I loved every aspect of this 640-page book. The story picks up 3 months after Feyre’s trip Under the Mountain. Her and Tamlin are living large at his manor, free at last… except for that pesky deal she made with the High Lord of the Night Court, Rhysand. But he’s not gone for long and everyone’s true natures are finally revealed. But back to the plot, talk about an emotional roller coaster. Feyre has a lot of choices ahead of her that can make it or break it for the whole of Prythian whether she realizes it or not.

I’ll endeavor to avoid as many spoilers as I can though you definitely need to read the first book beforehand. Like A Court of Thorns and Roses, the story centers around the characters and their relationships. And what presented itself as a potential love triangle swiftly turned into a beautiful romance between my new favorite fantasy OTP. When I reviewed ACOTAR, I mentioned that while I shipped Tamlin and Feyre, Rhysand was the game changer and boy, was he ever. I never hated myself more for shipping two characters than I do for Feylin.

Wrong, try again. Terrible idea. Must have been delirious.

Tamlin quickly proves what happens when possessive males go too far. Acting like a raging alpha male does little to endear him to Feyre or me and she quickly rids herself of him THANK GOODNESS. He was literally everything I ever thought I wanted in a hated character. There was nothing redeeming about him by the end of this book and I can’t wait to watch Feyre and Rhysand kick his ass.

Speaking of, who’s there to make sure that she is treated like an actual person instead of property? That’s right, folks.

Rhys.

I’m pretty sure Rhysand is the perfect guy. Not only does he support Feyre in every decision she makes but he also ensures she can hold her own, teaching her to use her new-found fae gifts, and even to learn to read. Not to mention these two have some serious chemistry but it doesn’t take over the story. This isn’t just a romance, but an adventure of self-learning, and retaliation against the King of Hybern who’s intent on wiping Prythian and the southern human lands off the map. I think the fact that the romance didn’t take over made it all the more powerful when it did show up.

Which, you can bet your ass was hot as hell. Like white fire, soul-scorching.

At first, I wasn’t sure how much Feyre was capable of after the torment of being Under the Mountain at the end of ACOTAR. Then Rhys introduces her to his inner circle, a band of trusted friends as deadly as they are loyal. Cassian and Azriel may have been complete opposites but both would defend each other to the grave. But the real powerhouses came in the form of Rhysand’s cousin Mor, and an ancient being trapped in the form of Amren. Together, they gave Feyre the chance to have a purpose and help the terror facing them — something Tamlin was strictly against. Plus, I loved the dynamic of this group. Despite the banter and insults, I knew each had the others’ backs.

I did miss Lucien as he was one of my favorite characters in the last book, and he makes his appearances at the bequest of Tamlin (hate him). Not sure how to feel about him being firmly at Tamlin’s side over and over despite the atrocities the High Lord committed when it came to Feyre but I don’t think he’s completely lost. Especially when it comes to Feyre’s sisters. I’m so glad they had a bigger role this book. Sweet Elain showed her love in her own way just as the overprotective Nesta would bite the head off anyone who came too close. View Spoiler »I fully ship Cassian and Nesta, and even the mate-pair Lucien and Elain a bit. « Hide Spoiler

Everything about this book made me want to laugh and cry and throw it at a wall and hug it to death. My biggest regret is that now I have to wait a whole year before knowing where the story goes next. But count me among the Feylin X Rhysand shippers because they need their happy ever after. Just how it is.